Category Archives: Daily Market Update

As my wife likes to continually remind me, “it’s not always about you,” but then again, I don’t really see her TheAcsWoman site anywhere, now do I?

But this was a great week, even as it isn’t always about the stock market.

The stock market basically did nothing on the week, but who cares?

Ordinarily, my answer to that rhetorical question would be “I do,” but this week was different.

It was different because, despite political differences and still some astonishment as I watched the Inauguration, still wondering how both political parties could have failed so badly as to get us to this point, it became clear that what hasn’t failed is our nation’s ability to move forward.

That explains why I attended one of the Inaugural Balls last night, although I did try to keep a low profile, due to my well-known political ties on the other side of the aisle.

I made the mistake, though, of being in the same place and the same time as the famed Eddy Elfenbein, of Crossing Wall Street and, so, it was hard to escape the cameras.

But the point is that the process is one that reflects greatness, as does peaceful protest.

So I’m excited about what next week brings, which now brings me back to the stock market and how the stock market affects me, because it is all about me.read more

It may be too soon to call this a victory, but for the moment, I’ll take whatever I can.

In this case, the victory was waking up this morning an still having Monday’s share purchase of Whole Foods in the account.

Whole Foods was ex-dividend today for $0.14

But shares closed yesterday at $30.73, which meant that the $30.50 strikes could have been assigned early.

But it’s all about the math and the probability of what could still happen over the course of the days remaining on the option contract.

In this case, following the $30.73 close and then deducting that $0.14 dividend, Whole Food shares would then start being available to trade at $30.59

For the option holder, the question was would it be worth actually paying the $30.50 for shares in order to grab the $0.14 dividend or hoping that maybe there was still some juice in that option contract.

Of course, if the option holder decided to grab the dividend, not only would he have to pay the $30.50 for shares, but he would also take the risk of shares declining in value at the open.read more

I didn’t vote for Donald Trump, but I really can’t wait until he steps into the Oval Office.

It’s not that I suddenly find myself agreeing with whatever Donald Trump believes, although it is hard to tell what he really believes, it’s just that I think that he will bring out the best in people.

He will do that at the same time that he has shown that he can bring out the worst in people.

You can’t disagree with Hillary Clinton’s reference to “deplorables,” although you would really have to question both her estimate of how many of Trump’s supporters really did fit into that category, as well as simply questioning her judgment in making the comment, itself.

By the same token, there are clearly “deplorables” on the other side of the political spectrum and in that group I might include those who have a hard time accepting the fact that Donald Trump will be our next President.

My father used to always say that “money brings out the best in people and the worst in people.”

For years, I thought that his lack of command of English as a language caused him to use the conjunction “and” when he really meant “or.”

It was only a few years ago that I realized that he said exactly what he meant.

Money can bring out both the best and the worst in someone and I think that Donald Trump will do the same with our elected officials.

Some, unfortunately, will feel even more emboldened to act in a ridiculous manner, while others are going to realize that the only way to move the nation forward is to come to some reconciliation across the aisle.

Remember when there were actually moderates in both parties who could stand one another professionally and personally?

At a time when the DJIA nears 20,000, it shouldn’t be too surprising when we see triple digit moves, anymore. Maybe what should be more surprising is when there is very little movement, just like today and so many recent days.

What was really surprising was 30 years ago when the DJIA was standing at about 2500 and we were seeing lots and lots of triple digit moves.

Now, 100 points is nothing.

But yesterday was only the second time since the election that we had a triple digit move lower, not as if there have been many of those higher, either.

There really was no reason, except maybe related to some end of the year strategies by people who thought they would out-smart everyone else.

This morning, it seemed back to normal, even as that might not really be very normal.

I’m glad that I had the chance to do a couple of rollovers yesterday, leaving only a single position still in contention for a rollover this week.

What really surprised me today was that while I had the money to spend, I actually spent some, as looking at the final 2 days of trading in 2016 ass some sort o opportunity that would never return.

For tomorrow, I think I will just watch the year come to its happy end and any trades that may come along the way just add to the happiness of 2016.